Man charged after shot fired at Manasota Beach

A shot fired in a $20 drug deal gone bad at Manasota Beach on Thursday led to the arrest of a Venice man.

According to a report from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office:

Samuel E. Ball, 18, 1600 block of Bamboo Drive in Venice, was charged with possession of marijuana and aggravated assault with a firearm after an altercation.

At about 5 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a call in parking lot of the beach in the 8500 block of Manasota Key Road in Englewood.

Kenneth Avedisian, 21, said he was shot at during an argument with an acquaintance, who was later identified as Ball.

Ball met with Avedisian in a truck allegedly to sell $20 of marijuana and show Avedisian a gun he said he stole from a neighbor, according to the arrest report. Ball is accused of showing the marijuana, then pointing the gun at Avedisian and demanding the money.

Detectives say Avedisian grabbed the gun, while Ball hit him with his free hand and then shot through the floor of the truck. Avedisian fell out of the truck and Ball drove away while pointing the gun at him.

Detectives say Avedisian was not shot during the fight, but was transported to Venice Regional Medical Center for treatment of a laceration he received during the struggle.

Deputies ask anyone with information to call the Criminal Investigations Section at 941-861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS (8477), online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com.

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